Blog

As we're preparing to dispatch Volume 1 of Wildling Magazine, I have taken time to stop and reflect on the last few months - a sudden idea, development of a creative concept, tentatively reaching out to the fine art community and feeling overwhelmed by the instant support. What I didn't expect was the constant stream of serendipitous conversations and meetings along the journey of curating Volume 1. I have discovered that creative parents are nurturing of their community, they support each other and build each other up and they have done so with Wildling.

Image by Elizabeth Messina.

Every single artist in Volume 1 has also inspired me on a personal level - to be a better parent or simply to just relax and enjoy the ride. Elizabeth Messina talks so eloquently and gracefully about motherhood in Volume 1 that reading her words brought tears to my eyes, and her advice on my children's haircare has been invaluable. Dallas Clayton has inspired me to ask my son for his thoughts when I have a problem to solve and listening to his advice has been so touching, I've discovered that he has great empathy. A long conversation with Ali Dover instilled me with so much confidence as she spoke passionately about the potential of mothers whilst Francis Firebrace encouraged me to put down my books and tell a story from the heart. Volume 1 is infused with positivity even as we hear the heart-breaking story of Natalie Dybisz who talks about what she gained from losing her first child - her words have such power and tenderness and she writes with complete honesty.

Image by Rebecca Lindon

Our fashion pages are filled with designs from mothers who received a new creative spark after having children and often embarked on a completely new career path. Then of course there are the trailblazers; parents who understand the importance of introducing new cultures to their children and happily whisk then away for far-flung adventures - how could we not be inspired by Nancy Ebert's trip to South Africa, Nina Mullins and her twins on the Isle of Skye or Maria Hibbs with her little girl in Morocco. They have all fuelled my wanderlust.

Image by Nina Mullins

I hope you enjoy reading Wildling Magazine as much as we enjoyed putting it together - 'we' being every parent featured, who got on a plane, picked up a camera, crafted a piece of clothing or learned something new about themselves and shared it with you.